A good karaoke night lives or dies by the song list. Get it right and the queue for the mic never empties. Get it wrong and you spend the evening watching people scroll through songs they don’t recognise.
We hire karaoke machines to hundreds of parties across the UK every year. These lists are based on what actually gets people off their seats – drawn from real booking requests, crowd reactions and the tracks that reliably fill the queue. These are the songs that actually get people singing – 100+ tracks organised across 10 sections by genre and mood so you can build a playlist that works for your crowd.
Karaoke machine hire starts from £160 with free UK delivery and 50,000+ songs included.
1. Timeless classics that never fail
These work at every karaoke night regardless of age group. If you’re unsure what to include, start here.
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
- “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond
- “Don’t Stop Believin'” – Journey
- “Dancing Queen” – ABBA
- “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi
- “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
- “Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler
- “Like a Prayer” – Madonna
- “I Want It That Way” – Backstreet Boys
- “Mr Brightside” – The Killers
- “Angels” – Robbie Williams
- “Wonderwall” – Oasis
- “9 to 5” – Dolly Parton
- “Let’s Dance” – David Bowie
- “Gold” – Spandau Ballet
Classics tend to get the whole room singing even when nobody has the mic. Mr Brightside and Sweet Caroline in particular reliably turn into group moments.
2. Best karaoke songs for women
Songs that sit in a comfortable vocal range for most women and that tend to get the best response from the room.
- “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan
- “Flowers” – Miley Cyrus
- “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
- “Dancing Queen” – ABBA
- “Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler
- “Respect” – Aretha Franklin
- “Valerie” – Amy Winehouse
- “9 to 5” – Dolly Parton
- “Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson
- “Titanium” – David Guetta ft. Sia
- “Wrecking Ball” – Miley Cyrus
- “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
- “Someone Like You” – Adele
- “Chandelier” – Sia
Adele tracks are the most requested karaoke songs for women. Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You both work for a wide vocal range.
3. Best karaoke songs for men
Songs that sit in a comfortable vocal range for most men and that tend to get the best response from the room.
- “My Way” – Frank Sinatra
- “Is This the Way to Amarillo” – Tony Christie
- “Summer of ’69” – Bryan Adams
- “Don’t Look Back in Anger” – Oasis
- “Common People” – Pulp
- “Tiny Dancer” – Elton John
- “Living Next Door to Alice” – Smokie
- “Sweet Home Chicago” – Robert Johnson
- “Bat Out of Hell” – Meat Loaf
- “Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
- “Yellow” – Coldplay
- “Dakota” – Stereophonics
- “Sex on Fire” – Kings of Leon
- “Teenage Dirtbag” – Wheatus
- “The Joker” – Steve Miller Band
My Way by Frank Sinatra and Is This the Way to Amarillo are the most requested karaoke songs for men at UK parties. Both are mid-range vocal, well-known lyrics and guarantee a room singalong.
4. Pop hits everyone knows (2026)
Current chart hits and recent pop that most guests will recognise. Good for getting the night started.
- “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “Please Please Please” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “Good Luck, Babe!” – Chappell Roan
- “Pink Pony Club” – Chappell Roan
- “Die With a Smile” – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
- “Flowers” – Miley Cyrus
- “Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift
- “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
- “Lose Control” – Teddy Swims
- “Feather” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “Bad Guy” – Billie Eilish
- “As It Was” – Harry Styles
- “Escapism.” – RAYE & 070 Shake
- “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- “Levitating” – Dua Lipa
Start with pop hits to warm up the room. People are more willing to get up first if they know every word.
5. Group karaoke songs everyone can sing
These are the songs where the whole room joins in whether they have a mic or not. Ideal for the end of the night or whenever energy needs a lift.
- “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond
- “Mr Brightside” – The Killers
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
- “Don’t Look Back in Anger” – Oasis
- “Hey Jude” – The Beatles
- “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi
- “Angels” – Robbie Williams
- “500 Miles” – The Proclaimers
- “Wonderwall” – Oasis
- “Don’t Stop Believin'” – Journey
- “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Joan Jett
- “Build Me Up Buttercup” – The Foundations
- “Twist and Shout” – The Beatles
End the night on one of these. Sweet Caroline, Bohemian Rhapsody and Don’t Look Back in Anger reliably get the whole room up regardless of how the night has gone.
6. Easy karaoke songs for beginners
First time at a karaoke night or not confident in your voice? These songs have limited vocal range, lyrics everyone already knows, and the crowd will carry you through even if you stumble.
- “Wannabe” – Spice Girls
- “Take On Me” – a-ha
- “Summer Nights” – Grease
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Randy Newman
- “Crocodile Rock” – Elton John
- “Let Her Go” – Passenger
- “Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison
- “Country Roads” – John Denver
- “YMCA” – Village People
- “Baggy Trousers” – Madness
- “Common People” – Pulp
- “Mr Jones” – Counting Crows
The room will sing along to most of these whether you have a mic or not. If you’re nervous, pick something from this list and let the crowd do the work.
7. Karaoke duets
Pair two guests for these – duets are one of the best formats for getting shy people on the mic because the pressure is shared.
- “Shallow” – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
- “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” – Elton John & Kiki Dee
- “Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie
- “Islands in the Stream” – Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
- “A Whole New World” – Aladdin
- “Perfect Duet” – Ed Sheeran & Beyoncé
- “Say Something” – A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
- “Endless Love” – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
- “Just Give Me a Reason” – P!nk & Nate Ruess
- “The Prayer” – Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli
- “Somethin’ Stupid” – Frank Sinatra & Nancy Sinatra
- “Kids” – Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue
Announce a duet challenge early in the night and let guests sign up for pairs. Competitive formats keep the energy up and fill the queue faster.
8. Rock anthems to belt out
High-energy tracks that reward big voices. These tend to come out later in the night when people are warmed up.
- “Eye of the Tiger” – Survivor
- “We Will Rock You” – Queen
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N’ Roses
- “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
- “Back in Black” – AC/DC
- “Highway to Hell” – AC/DC
- “Born to Be Wild” – Steppenwolf
- “Jump” – Van Halen
- “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” – Simple Minds
- “Living After Midnight” – Judas Priest
- “Wanted Dead or Alive” – Bon Jovi
- “Africa” – Toto
- “Come On Eileen” – Dexys Midnight Runners
Rock songs work best when the room is already warm. Save them for the second half of the night rather than opening with them.
9. Best karaoke rap songs
Rap tracks work well at karaoke when the lyrics are well-known enough for the room to follow along. These are the ones that tend to land best.
- “Lose Yourself” – Eminem
- “Jump Around” – House of Pain
- “Rapper’s Delight” – Sugarhill Gang
- “Ice Ice Baby” – Vanilla Ice
- “U Can’t Touch This” – MC Hammer
- “Gold Digger” – Kanye West ft. Jamie Foxx
- “Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
- “Forgot About Dre” – Dr. Dre & Eminem
- “Without Me” – Eminem
- “Mo Money Mo Problems” – The Notorious B.I.G.
Older rap tracks work better at karaoke than newer ones because more of the room knows the lyrics. Lose Yourself, Ice Ice Baby and Rapper’s Delight reliably get everyone joining in.
10. Feel-good party tracks
Upbeat, fun and universally recognised. These keep energy levels up and work for any age group.
- “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Justin Timberlake
- “I Gotta Feeling” – The Black Eyed Peas
- “Call Me Maybe” – Carly Rae Jepsen
- “Firework” – Katy Perry
- “Dynamite” – BTS
- “Valerie” – Amy Winehouse
- “Rehab” – Amy Winehouse
- “Respect” – Aretha Franklin
- “Walking on Sunshine” – Katrina & The Waves
- “Good as Hell” – Lizzo
- “Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
- “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
- “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon
Feel-good tracks work well between harder song choices. They keep the atmosphere up without asking too much of whoever has the mic.
Tips for building a karaoke playlist
- Open with something everyone knows. The first song sets the tone. Pick something from the classics or feel-good section that removes the barrier for people getting up.
- Know your crowd. A hen party crowd wants different songs from a family birthday. The sections above give you a starting point – weight your playlist toward whichever section fits your guests best.
- Don’t front-load the rock anthems. Rock songs work better in the second half when people are warmed up and less self-conscious. Opening with Smells Like Teen Spirit tends to clear the floor rather than fill it.
- Have more songs than you need. A two-hour event needs at least 40-50 songs queued. Not everyone will sing but having options available keeps the queue moving.
- Include at least two or three duets. Duets get shy guests on the mic and create the best moments of the night. Announce them early so people can pair up.
FAQ
What are the most popular karaoke songs in 2026?
The most requested tracks in 2026 are Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso and Please Please Please, Chappell Roan’s Good Luck Babe and Pink Pony Club, and die-with-a-smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. Classic staples like Bohemian Rhapsody, Sweet Caroline and Mr Brightside remain the most requested songs overall regardless of year.
What are the best karaoke songs for beginners?
Songs with a limited vocal range and lyrics everyone already knows. Sweet Caroline, Don’t Stop Believin’, Happy, Can’t Stop the Feeling and Walking on Sunshine all work well for first-timers. These songs are forgiving enough that even a shaky voice sounds fine.
What are good karaoke songs for a mixed age group?
The classics section works for almost every age group – ABBA, Queen, Bon Jovi and Neil Diamond are recognised across generations. For a mixed crowd, avoid anything too niche or too recent and anchor the playlist around songs from the 80s and 90s with a handful of current hits alongside.
How many songs do I need for a karaoke night?
For a two-hour event with 20 guests, aim for 40-50 songs queued and ready. Each song runs roughly 3-4 minutes, so two hours gives you around 30-40 song slots. Having more than you need means nobody is waiting on a song that isn’t loaded.
What is the easiest karaoke song to sing?
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond is widely considered the easiest karaoke song – the chorus is three words and the room does most of the work. Other reliable easy picks: Wannabe by Spice Girls, YMCA by Village People, Country Roads by John Denver and Crocodile Rock by Elton John. All have simple melodies, familiar lyrics and forgiving vocal ranges.
What is a crowd pleaser karaoke song?
A crowd pleaser is a song where the whole room sings along regardless of who has the mic. Mr Brightside, Bohemian Rhapsody, Sweet Caroline, Don’t Stop Believin’ and Livin’ on a Prayer are the most reliable crowd pleasers at UK karaoke nights. All have familiar lyrics, a singable chorus and enough nostalgia to get people on their feet.
What’s the funniest karaoke song?
Funniest depends on the performer as much as the song – but tracks that reliably get laughs include Wannabe by Spice Girls (the rap section), Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice, YMCA by Village People, Is This the Way to Amarillo by Tony Christie and Bohemian Rhapsody (the operatic section). Songs with dramatic key changes, spoken word sections or well-known video moves get the best reactions.
What karaoke machine should I hire for a house party?
An all-in-one machine with built-in speakers, a large touchscreen and wireless microphones is the easiest option for a house party. Our karaoke machine hire starts from £160 and includes 50,000+ songs, two wireless mics, free UK delivery and full setup instructions. No tech knowledge required
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